Ranking MLS goalkeepers: Dallas’ Kevin Hartman at the top

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By Round 7 of Major League Soccer the sample of matches is substantial enough to get a decent handle on relative, individual form.

We may not know definitively who still has it in 2012, who lost it, who has more of it, etc. – but we’re starting to get a pretty good idea.

Besides, ranking the positions is just plain fun, like snow cones or your favorite song cranked up to 11.

So let’s roll! Here are my Top 10 goalkeepers now in MLS. It’s a relative assessment that heavily weighs the here and now (current form) along with some consideration of long-term upside (future potential), all while allowing some small heed to the critical intangible of leadership. Think of it this way: If you started an MLS team today and needed a good goalkeeper for the 2012 season, which one would it be?

Here’s who I would take:

1. Kevin Hartman, FC Dallas

2. Nick Rimando, Real Salt Lake

3. Jon Busch, San Jose

4. Jimmy Nielsen, Sporting Kansas City

5. Matt Reis, New England

6. Michael Gspurning, Seattle

7. Dan Kennedy, Chivas USA

8. Joe Cannon, Vancouver

9. Tally Hall, Houston

10. Josh Saunders, L.A. Galaxy

Rational, motive and intent: Hartman’s leadership and shot-stopping for FC Dallas have been nearly flawless since his 2010 arrival into Texas. His ability to deal with crosses isn’t the best in the business, but it’s not so bad that it keeps him off the top of my list.

Between Busch and Rimando, it’s more or less a wash in my book in pure ability; Rimando’s leadership puts him in the No. 2 spot. I haven’t seen enough of Gspurning, but I like what I have seen. Ability-wise, Tally Hall might deserve a slightly higher ranking, but this is just his second season in a starting assignment. Experience counts for a lot, but I might expect him to climb in a year or so.

As for the rest …

There’s a really good crop coming up, and it’s not just two young U.S. internationals, Sean Johnson and Bill Hamid. Chicago’s Paolo Tornaghi, D.C. United’s Joe Willis, Philadelphia’s Zac MacMath and the New York Red Bulls Ryan Meara all show promise.

Toronto’s Stefan Frei would have been Top 5 last year, but a dip in form and a pair of (possibly related) injuries meant that, well, I really didn’t know what to do with Frei for this list.

And Donovan Ricketts, who would definitely have been on the Top 5 at this time last year? He’s had some curiously wobbly moments this year in goal for Montreal.

Cecilio Dominguez and Mateus Uribe each bagged a brace, and Renato Ibarra also scored as the tournament’s top team sauntered into and out of Costa Rica on Wednesday. Club America has been to seven CCL finals, and one every single one.

West Ham United will pay a visit to Dag & Red as part of the latter’s #SaveTheDaggers campaign, and the March 21 date will cost fans between $7 and $21 to see a top flight side at 6,000-seat Victoria Road.

“So please come on down to the Chigwell Construction Stadium for an additional night of football. Bring a friend, or two, or more and we can use the gate takings to help get us back on track,” reads a press release.

Dag & Red was founded in 1992 and climbed as high as League One in 2011, and plays just 2.5 miles from West Ham United’s training ground. Newcastle’s Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle are among Dag & Red alums in the Premier League.

It’s a terrific gesture from West Ham, and is even more impressive in the United States where the growing club game is increasingly cutthroat (especially between non-synced leagues).

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AS Roma manager Eusebio Di Francesco absolutely roasted his charges after i Lupi tossed aside a Cenzig Under-inspired lead to fall 2-1 at Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie on Wednesday.

Di Francesco had praise for Edin Dzeko, who assisted Under’s goal, as well as goalkeeper Alisson, but was mostly enraged by his side.

4) “The difference was that in the first half we tried to hurt them while in the second we were looking to hold on – to what? I don’t know.”

— “To what? I don’t know” is hilarious. Di Francesco’s side has posted some serious wins this season, including killing off Chelsea 3-0 at home and coming back from 2-0 to draw the Blues at Stamford Bridge. He doesn’t preach sitting back.

3) “There were far too many schoolboy errors – even by players with a wealth of international experience.”

— Schoolboy errors!

2) “I saw two completely different teams out there today. There were lots of players I should have taken off after we conceded the first goal.”

— Again, one mistake by a number of players on Facundo Ferreyra is enough for Di Francesco. He’s not just happy to be here.

1) “I can’t imagine we’d get arrogant just because we’re winning an important game. It’s not as if Roma are used to reaching the final every year.”

— When you’re willing to essentially rip an entire club’s history — Roma’s been to just two UCL quarterfinals since losing the final to Liverpool in 1984 — you’re putting your footprints in new cement.

Salzburg’s two away goals in a draw feels like a one-goal lead, and the one-goal matches are especially interesting. In the case of Atalanta, 1-0 to the Serie A side could undo Michy Batshuayi‘s first leg heroics for BVB.